December 30, 2008

Yeah, I did some cooking, like for real. Hard core. I'm pretty much awesome. You're lucky to know me.

Yes, I made everything on this table. I made it from scratch baby. I would say I picked the asparagus and butchered the pig too, but that would be a lie. It's too bad you can't see some of it so well. I should have taken better pictures. And it's really too bad you couldn't have tasted it all. It was pretty much my favorite home cooked meal ever.

And yes, I am humble. Thank you very much.

:)

Oh wait, I didn't do the gravy. I don't do gravy with the mother-in-law around. She's the master and you don't mess with the master!

December 17, 2008

I would like to go sledding if it weren't so dang cold!! This is the remnant of our storm this past weekend. Of course it's all been shoveled out at this point.

Anyway, I've been feeling blah today. I really need to get some cleaning done but of course I'm procrastinating as usual. Pretty much all I've done today is feed the kids, watch tv and make a scarf. How productive! :) I think part of the problem is the lack of sleep over the weekend, the abundance of sleep yesterday afternoon, and then the back pain last night which led to restless sleep once again.

I feel like there is so much to do before Christmas and I don't know if I'll get everything done that I'd like to get done. Typical.

I don't really have anything to say right now. Life has been fairly uneventful lately. So here are a few photos and that's about it for me today :)

This morning Eric was scheduled to work overtime from 9 to noon. I got up this morning at 7 to feed Alex (who, btw, slept from 10 pm to 7 am!) and I called his work's weather line to see if they were open and they were. So Eric got up to start shoveling the driveway. I told him that I didn't think he should try to make it to work but he was determined to try because he had someone waiting on him for a ride.

While he was out there I took a peek out the window to check on him and could not see him anywhere! I was starting to get a little worried, thinking maybe he passed out from the cold. But then I open the door and see him running toward the house from the street. I was wondering what the heck he was doing! Then I see someone running behind him. Apparently a young woman had gotten her car stuck in the middle of the street!

Eric invited her in to call a tow truck and we chatted for a bit. She is 8 weeks pregnant and was so relieved that Eric saw her! I was irritated with Eric for trying to go to work this morning but now I see that God had a plan and I'm so glad that Eric was out there and found her. Poor girl. I would have been totally freaked out! There's no way she could have stayed in her car. She was barely dressed warm enough and there are wind chills of -40 outside! I made everyone omelettes and coffee and just felt good inside. You know, it always feels good to be able to lend a helping hand.

The girl's boyfriend tried to come to her rescue and also got stuck! So they called their friend who has a big truck to come get them both.

Needless to say, Eric did end up deciding not to go to work after all. So we're officially snowed in... and we have no milk. We are dumb. I almost went out yesterday to grab some but was being lazy. I don't even know if we'll be able to drive around town until tomorrow afternoon. I'll have to figure something out for breakfast tomorrow because we don't even have any eggs left either.

December 13, 2008

December 10, 2008

These are blessed moments. I know I worry too much and I let myself feel overwhelmed often and I know I need to stop doing that. It's human nature of course, but still it does make a person feel inferior and that's what I'm trying to get away from.

Yes, I let the daily tasks overwhelm me to the point of getting absolutely nothing done sometimes. I wonder what's the point. That laundry is just going to be there again tomorrow. Those dishes will start piling up the moment I finish them. But then I remember, this is my job. Yes, my job is a 24/7 job. It does not end at 5 or 6 or 7... it never ends. Even when I'm completely away, I'm never really completely away. A part of myself is always here. Thinking about my family. Where I'm succeeding and where I'm failing.

I guess I didn't really think about how a new baby would throw off my groove. I knew there would be a period of adjustment, but surely it wouldn't be for long. However, I was wrong. It's hard. Harder than I imagined. Finding time for myself was tough before! Now it feels impossible. Particularly as a nursing mother, which I've never really been before (I tried with both, but didn't stick with it long), I feel attached at the hip to my little boy. I adore him with all my heart, and I don't regret choosing to breastfeed, I love it. It just gets exhausting sometimes.

However, in the midst of the chaos, I look around and see my many blessings and remember how quickly this will pass me by. So I'm trying very hard to savor the moments with my family at this stage in our lives. I don't always have dinner ready on time, the household chores may not be done daily, and sometimes I lose my temper, but I hope that my family knows how much I love and cherish them despite my shortcomings.

I saw this on a blog this morning and it is what prompted the above post :)

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat. Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of good clothes to wear. And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels, and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient. Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs cleaning inside and out. It has served us faithfully for many years and has enough food in it for several meals. Thank you, Lord for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today. It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard. Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming door; my kids are healthy and able to run and play.